Ominous: Blair Says New Israel-Palestinian Peace Deal Coming
(2004)
Everytime I hear talk about a “new” peace deal for the Israelis and Palestinians brokered by some third entity, it raises my attention to a certain level. Add to that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (an “international Mideast envoy” accountable to what country or entity I do not know) yapping up a new plan brokered by the U.S. and that will be reviewed by “The Quartet,” a term I have never heard before. The Quartet is said to be the U.S., the U.N., the E.U. and Russia — er, nevermind the leaders of Israel and PLO taking part taking part in this final stage. Considering the reports that have been floating around about President Barack Obama’s lukewarm behavior toward Israel and his plan calling for “the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel…. [saying] a two-state solution [is] the only way to solve the Mideast conflict” … I don’t believe there’s much hope for Israel (outside of GOD’s hands). The leader(s) of the E.U. are reportedly calling for the same 2-state “solution.”
From the WaPo:
The Obama administration and international negotiators are drafting a new strategy for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and expect to unveil it within six weeks, international Mideast envoy Tony Blair said.
The plan _ being devised by the U.S. administration but with input from others _ should offer renewed hope, the former British prime minister told Palestinian reporters.
“We’re about to get a new framework,” Blair said late Tuesday. “I can only speculate right now about what that framework is going to be. The reason I say people should be more hopeful, is that this is a framework that is being worked on at the highest level in the American administration, (and) in the rest of the international community.”
As reported May 5 on UPI:
According to a report Tuesday in the respected Israeli newspaper Haaretz, U.S. national security adviser Gen. James Jones, the former commandant of the U.S. Marines Corps, sent a message to a European foreign minister that read, “The new administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question. We will not push Israel under the wheels of a bus, but we will be more forceful toward Israel than we have been under Bush.”
And if you read between the lines in this May 5 article from The Times (UK):
Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, was, however, reported to have linked efforts to thwart Iran’s nuclear programme – “the number one threat in the Middle East” – with progress in the peace process.
He told a private meeting of Aipac donors that the task of building an international coalition against Tehran will be made easier if Israel and the Palestinians hold a constructive dialogue.
Last month, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, warned Israel that it risks losing Arab support for combating threats from Iran if it rejects peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
It appears as if the Obama administration is saying to Israel: “We won’t help you deal with Iran (a nation that continually calls for your destruction and is fast building up nuclear weaponry) unless you cave in and allow a Palestinian state.” Allowing a Palestinian state would undoubtedly mean ceding areas of Israel to the Arabs.
And not that I am in favor of nukes, but if a nation is surrounded on all sides by other nations who don’t think very fondly of her and the heavyweight in the region who especially hates said nation’s guts has nukes (or will soon) … I would prefer that said hated nation hold on to its nukes. However, the Obama administration doesn’t agree and may just be all in favor for officially letting the cat out of the bag.
Either way, this news doesn’t fare well for Israel. And it always amazes me how practically the entire world seems more involved in solving the Israeli-Palestinian situation (going on for decades) that the leaders of Isreal and the Palestinians. Obama is scheduled to meet with said leaders in addition to Egyptian leaders this month — but that list of course doesn’t include Hamas, the democratically elected leaders of Gaza… How do they plan on getting around that?
1 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
9 Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon, 10 Who perished at En Dor, Who became as refuse on the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.”
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like the chaff before the wind! 14 As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 So pursue them with Your tempest, And frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.
Related posts:
- Irony: Palestinian Fighters Seek Refuge In Israel From Gaza Violence
- Blair To Teach About Faith At Yale
- Roman Catholic Faithful Tony Blair To Become Very First ‘President Of Europe’
- Changing Of The Guard In Israel – Whom Will The LORD Install?
- Rome To Be Permanent Home Of Mideast Reconciliation Council (With Jews, Muslims & Christians)
